Social Work England
Senior Operations Lead - Triage (Interim Head)
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The Role
Social Work England are the specialist regulator for social work in England, focused on enabling positive change in social work. Every day, social workers support millions of people to improve their chances in life. We are taking a new approach to regulating social workers in their vital roles. We believe in the power of collaboration and share a common goal with those we regulate – to protect the public, enable positive change and ultimately improve people’s lives.
The Senior Operational Lead provides senior operational leadership across the triage function during a period of significant organisational transformation, workforce expansion and service improvement. Working in partnership with the Head of Triage, the role exercises significant delegated authority to ensure continuity of day-to-day operational leadership, sustained service performance and workforce effectiveness whilst the Head of Triage leads the implementation of the Triage Process Review recommendations and wider transformation programme.
A key purpose of the role is to strengthen and lead the existing management structure, including Triage Operational Managers and Triage Leads. The postholder develops management capability, addresses complex performance, behavioural and capability issues, embeds consistent leadership practice and creates high performing teams, enabling the Head of Triage to focus on strategic transformation whilst maintaining high standards of operational delivery.
The role requires the application of extensive specialist knowledge of fitness to practise triage, regulatory decision making, operational leadership and workforce management to ensure the consistent delivery of high quality, legally robust and evidence-based operational outcomes.
What you will do
- Provide senior operational leadership for the day-to-day operation of the Triage function, exercising significant delegated authority on behalf of the Head of Triage to ensure agreed performance, quality, workforce and service objectives are achieved.
- Provide senior operational leadership to Operational Managers and Triage Leads, holding them accountable for delivering agreed operational, quality, workforce and customer service objectives whilst strengthening management capability across the function.
- Lead the development of management capability by coaching, mentoring and supporting Operational Managers and Triage Leads, addressing complex performance, capability and behavioural issues and embedding a culture of accountability, continuous improvement and high performance.
- Be responsible and accountable for robust, accurate, clear and consistent operational decision-making in relation to triage activities, ensuring decisions are evidence-based, legally defensible and consistent with legislative, regulatory and organisational requirements.
- Analyse operational performance, workforce information, service risks and management information to identify underlying causes of underperformance, determine appropriate interventions and deliver sustainable improvements in operational effectiveness and service delivery.
- Provide operational leadership to implement and embed agreed service improvements, ensuring new ways of working are consistently adopted across the Triage function whilst maintaining operational performance, workforce resilience and service continuity.
- Lead the operational identification, management and escalation of operational and regulatory risks, ensuring appropriate mitigation, maintaining public protection and providing assurance to the Head of Triage and Assistant Director – Regulation (Investigations).
- Develop effective working relationships with colleagues, Legal Services and external stakeholders, providing expert operational advice, resolving complex challenges to regulatory decision-making and influencing the consistent application of legislation, policy and operational practice.
- Prepare and present operational performance, workforce intelligence and emerging risks to senior leaders, providing authoritative advice to support operational decision-making, organisational objectives and continuous improvement.
- Lead by example, promoting equality, diversity and inclusion whilst embedding organisational values, continuous improvement and excellent regulatory practice.
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Your Skills, Knowledge And Experience
- Significant senior operational leadership experience of leading operational teams and managers within a high-volume regulatory, investigations, enforcement, fitness to practise or similar environment, with a comprehensive understanding of regulatory decision making, statutory processes and operational governance.
- Demonstrable experience of improving individual, team and organisational performance through effective leadership, coaching and performance management.
- Experience of managing complex workforce issues including capability, conduct, attendance and behavioural matters.
- Experience of leading, coaching and developing operational managers and building management capability within operational environments.
- Proven ability to lead operational delivery during periods of significant organisational change, maintaining service performance whilst embedding sustainable improvements and developing organisational capability.
- Strong analytical skills with experience of using operational performance information and management data to identify issues and drive improvement.
- Experience of implementing change within operational services whilst maintaining service delivery.
- Ability to influence, coach and challenge managers and staff constructively to achieve positive outcomes.
- Strong communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills, with experience of representing operational services and building credibility with senior internal and external stakeholders.
- Demonstrable commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and experience of creating inclusive and high-performing team cultures.
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Benefits
- 25 days annual leave, rising with service to 30 days per annum, plus bank holidays.
- The option to purchase up to an additional 5 days of annual leave per annum.
- A TIDE award winning inclusive culture, made up of staff networks, social events and forums.
- A pension scheme, life insurance, an employee recognition scheme and cycle to work scheme.
Details
- Job type: Fixed-term contract until 31st March 2027
- Working pattern: Full time. We offer flexible working subject to business need.
- Salary: £63,526 per year, rising to £65,924 per year after successful completion of a 6-month probationary period.
- Location: Sheffield/Hybrid
Application
During the application process, you'll be asked to provide answers to three questions from the job description. These answers will be what your application is scored on, please answer in as much detail as possible using examples where necessary.
About Us
Join us - Social Work England
Our behaviours and values - Social Work England
What our people say - Social Work England
Pre-Employment Checks
If you are successful at interview, we will carry out a series of routine pre-employment checks. These include verifying your references, confirming your right to work in the UK, and completing a Basic DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check.
These checks are conducted in partnership with our third-party provider, Amiqus, who will guide you through the process.
Please note that all offers of employment are subject to the satisfactory completion of these checks. If you have any questions or concerns please contact our recruitment team via recruitment@socialworkengland.org.uk and our team will be happy to help.
Contact
If you have any queries about the recruitment process, or would like to discuss the role, please contact recruitment@socialworkengland.org.uk.
How to apply
To apply, complete the application form by the closing date.
Interview
At interview we will seek to further understand your skills, knowledge, experience and motivation and test the key competencies of the role. If you are successful, we will undertake routine pre-employment checks.
Find out more about our application and interview process.
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